Does Dental Insurance Cover Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Few people get excited at the thought of going to the dentist, especially if tooth removal is on the menu. Fortunately, many procedures are covered by dental insurance. When it comes to wisdom teeth, whether dental insurance will cover your procedure is dependent on a few different factors.

Average Cost of Wisdom Tooth Removal in the US

Wisdom tooth removal cost varies depending on a few factors. Whether your teeth or impacted or have erupted through the gums makes a huge difference in price, since the latter typically results in a relatively easy removal. If your teeth are impacted, meaning trapped underneath the gums, the price tends to be much higher. The average cost of wisdom tooth removal for all four teeth after insurance tends to be around $1,000. Remember that the price is entirely dependent on the severity of your wisdom teeth situation, meaning the more impacted they are, the more work that will go into removing them, so the price will be much higher than a simple extraction. The Oral Health Foundation suggests always getting an estimate before you start treatment to make sure you can get the actual price you will be paying.

If It's Medically Necessary, You're in Luck

Wisdom tooth removal when it comes to impaction is typically considered medically necessary. According to Murfreesboro Family Dentistry, impacted wisdom teeth can be very painful and lead to infection, so this condition generally qualifies removal as “medically necessary.” Be sure to speak with your insurance provider prior to the procedure, however, just to be sure that the wisdom teeth removal is actually covered.

If It's Preventative, You Might Have a Hard Time

Dental insurance companies will be less likely to want to cover a procedure that is not deemed medically necessary. In turn, if you are trying to get your wisdom teeth removed as a preventative measure, dental insurance will not be as willing to cover your procedure. Work with your dentist's billing department prior to undergoing the procedure to see if they need to bill it a certain way in order to obtain dental coverage for wisdom teeth removal. Otherwise, you may be responsible for a hefty portion, if not the entirety, of the bill.

More often than not, insurance is a good idea. Especially when it comes to dental work, it is worth looking into insurance. Even if your wisdom teeth removal is deemed unnecessary from a medical standpoint, you can always call your dental insurance provider to see if they will cover a portion of the procedure at the very least.

​It’s important to have insurance to protect your health. Contact us to get a quote!